DHS: A Data Handover Scheme for Lifetime Enhancement of Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor nodes must function in an energy-efficient manner in order to enhance network lifetime. In this paper we propose a Data Handover Scheme (DHS) which enhances the performance of several hierarchical routing protocols in terms of network lifetime. The base station being located at variable distances from the individual nodes, in spite of randomization and chain formation, each node actually dissipates a different amount of energy during its turn of transmission to the base station. DHS eliminates this energy difference by data handover in specific cycles through suitable node pairing and partner swapping. Extensive simulations show that LEACH with DHS performs 16.66% better than LEACH alone, PEGASIS with DHS shows 12.93% improvement over PEGASIS alone and binary model with DHS performs 15% better than the binary model alone considering network lifetime. A generalized mean transfer scheme is devised for large scale networks with significant (0.2–16%) lifetime increment. Furthermore PEGASIS with DHS shows that it attains almost a near optimal solution for the number of cycles endured by the network. As far as our knowledge goes, we are the first ones to address the problem of variable node distances from the Base Station and variable internodal distances.